Jan 30 2009 Email CHQ to Units

Okay, Ward Clerks aren't really suppose to call CHQ anymore.

So can the Stake Clerk see my data or does this have to be a sit down type of assistance?

kmalone wrote:Okay, Ward Clerks aren't really suppose to call CHQ anymore.

So can the Stake Clerk see my data or does this have to be a sit down type of assistance?

I suppose it would depend on what type of problem is involved. The stake can see your membership data, but not your financial data.

kmalone wrote:Okay, Ward Clerks aren't really suppose to call CHQ anymore.

So can the Stake Clerk see my data or does this have to be a sit down type of assistance?

lajackson wrote:I suppose it would depend on what type of problem is involved. The stake can see your membership data, but not your financial data.

The 30 Jan 2009 MLS Message deals only with financial matters -- it doesn't say ward clerks can't call CHQ on membership matters. Furthermore, it only deals with reconciliation. So it is a large exaggeration to say that ward clerks are not supposed to call CHQ anymore. The message certainly did not say that ward clerks could not call CHQ about a voided check, for example.

Under the new policy, the stake clerk (or an assistant) must review any reconciliation questions with the ward clerk (or assistant). Hopefully the stake clerk can help resolve the issue. If not, the stake clerk should call Clerk Support for help. The message was a bit confusing in that it never said that a ward clerk could call for help, but allowed for the possibility that a ward clerk might call and receive help (as long as the stake clerk had reviewed the issue). In any case, if a ward clerk does call, the solution will be routed through the stake clerk.

The message did quote sections from the Church Handbook of Instructions, which clearly supported the notion that the stake clerk should provide training and help resolve problems. But I can see how this policy will present some challenges in stakes where wards are not close to each other. Many problems can be solved over the phone. Hopefully between the stake clerk and the assistant clerks the burden can be spread out for the more challenging problems that may require a personal visit.

Alan_Brown wrote:The 30 Jan 2009 MLS Message deals only with financial matters -- it doesn't say ward clerks can't call CHQ on membership matters. Furthermore, it only deals with reconciliation. So it is a large exaggeration to say that ward clerks are not supposed to call CHQ anymore...

Now there was a separate communication sent through MLS a few weeks before this that did state ward clerks could call CHQ, but that they might have some difficulty getting some of the information they sought. It wasn't flat out discouraged, but alternate means were laid out as better options.

It seemed due to the fact that the MSR representatives are able to confirm the name of a bishop or stake president over the phone, but not necessarily the clerks. Actually, this previous sentence could be completely false; but the real fact of the matter is that the phone representatives have made it a more concrete policy to not reveal some pieces of information over the phone to local unit clerks and secretaries.

Either way, the message laid out two main options: 1) Send an MLS message through the software (this seemed to be because such a message can't be forged and is easily verified) for the inquiries or changes you are in need of, or 2) have your local leader make the phone call instead.

mkmurray wrote:Now there was a separate communication sent through MLS a few weeks before this that did state ward clerks could call CHQ, but that they might have some difficulty getting some of the information they sought. It wasn't flat out discouraged, but alternate means were laid out as better options.

It seemed due to the fact that the MSR representatives are able to confirm the name of a bishop or stake president over the phone, but not necessarily the clerks. Actually, this previous sentence could be completely false; but the real fact of the matter is that the phone representatives have made it a more concrete policy to not reveal some pieces of information over the phone to local unit clerks and secretaries.

Either way, the message laid out two main options: 1) Send an MLS message through the software (this seemed to be because such a message can't be forged and is easily verified) for the inquiries or changes you are in need of, or 2) have your local leader make the phone call instead.

The message you are referring to had to do with membership information and how to communicate on such matters so that the Church could preserve confidence. That's indeed a valid issue that the Church is concerned about, but that is an entirely different matter from the one under discussion in this thread.

This thread deals specifically with the 30 Jan 2009 MLS message regarding help with financial reconciliations. In that message the topic was working through proper channels to reduce the burden on Clerk Support for issues that can be resolved by the stake clerk. Those channels are quite different from the membership channels referred to in the other message.